Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
How I Brewed This Iced Tea:
There are a lot of different ways to make iced tea. On the 52Teas website, there is a suggested brewing method, but, I have my own method that I’m going to share right now before I write this review. My method allows for maximum extraction of flavor while using a little less leaf; thereby giving me maximum value for my tea purchase. This method makes a half-gallon of iced tea, and by using this method, I am able to get three half-gallon pitchers of tea from each pouch (1 and 1/2 gallons total) instead of just 1 gallon.
Place 3 rounded teaspoons of leaf into the brewing chamber of a smart tea maker like this one. Carefully pour boiling water over the leaves in the chamber, allow to steep for just 90 seconds. Filter the tea into a half-gallon pitcher. Resteep the leaves for 2 minutes; filter the tea into the half-gallon pitcher. Repeat the resteep process, adding 30 seconds onto the brew time with each resteep until the pitcher is full. Place pitcher in the refrigerator until the tea is chilled. Enjoy.
The method above allows me to add ice cubes to my tea without worry of dilution (I suppose I could make tea ice cubes, but, I am already given enough grief over the fact that I have “tea everywhere” in the house, I am not going to make tea ice cubes and give my family more reason to remark on my tea habit).
Taster’s Review:
Another delicious iced tea from this “Tropical Fruit” series from 52Teas! Of course, this is the one I expected to taste good, and of course, it does. Unfortunately, it isn’t quite as good as I had expected it to be. It’s tasty, but I would have been happier if the mango flavor were stronger.
I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed though. As it is, the mango flavor is pleasant. It is sweet with notes of tart at the tail of the sip. The black tea and mango flavor are balanced evenly, and perhaps that’s a good thing. For me, personally, though, when it comes to mango, I wouldn’t be so disappointed if the mango flavor overwhelmed the black tea just a little bit.
The black tea is brisk and strong, with a lovely malty tone in the background. It has a fair amount of dry astringency, and prepares the palate for a sweet mango aftertaste. In fact, the aftertaste is where much of the mango flavor manages to reach the palate.
So you see, the tea is what it’s suppose to be. It’s supposed to be a mango flavored black tea, and that is what it tastes like. 52Teas delivered. I guess I’m just a little greedy and I want more mango…
